Mythology at Del Prado

I really like mythology, and I forgot.  I really want to get back into reading the myths and their interpretations.  They are all over this museum.  Its really interesting to see how many of these guys painted the same thing.  When you're coming up in the academies, do you prove yourself by working your way through the major mythological images?  Is that how you were judged/compared?  It does make for a good apples-to-apples

Saturn Devouring his Son
by Goya

Saturn Devouring his Son
by Rubens

Rubens interpretation of The 3 Fates
(the couple are not the fates, they're just being worked on)

 

totally different interpretation by Goya, including a Fourth Fate! later played by Eddie Murphy on SNL

There are several more examples in this Museum alone, which really drills home two big, important ideas

• There are no new ideas (see picture below, not from the Prado)
• Everyone's got a frickin opinion

Make fun, but you know you're going to watch it on TBS over the holidays in 2014